Diagnosis of Peripheral Neuropathy

Underlying Causes of Neuropathy

Underlying causes of neuropathy to be considered in the evaluation of patients with suspected neuropathic pain include:

• Acute ascending motor paralysis with minimal sensory disturbance

  • Guillan-Barre syndrome
  • diphteritic polyneuropathy (muscles of swallowing and speech are also involved)

• Mononeuropathy multiplex

  • diabetes mellitus
  • sarcoidosis
  • polyarteritis nodosa

• Subacute sensorimotor polyneuropathy

  • nutritional deficiencies - thiamine; niacin ; or vitamin B12 deficiency
  • poisoning with heavy metals and solvents
  • drug intoxication
  • metabolic syndrome
  • diabetes mellitus

• Chronic sensorimotor polyneuropathy

  • connective tissue diseases
  • uremia - the buildup of urea in the blood because the kidneys are not working effectively)
  • beriberi
  • carcinoma (e.g., paraneoplastic syndrome)
  • paraproteinemia
  • hypothyroidism
  • amyloidosis
  • diabetes mellitus
  • leprosy